Osteospermum plant named ‘Sunpix0802’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Osteospermum  plant named ‘Sunpix0802’, characterized by its compact and mounded plant habit; freely branching growth habit; daisy-type inflorescences with deep red-colored ray florets; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Osteospermum ecklonis.

Cultivar denomination: ‘SUNPIX0802’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Osteospermum plant, botanically known as Osteospermum ecklonis, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Sunpix0802’.

The new Osteospermum plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Odense, Denmark. The objective of the program is to create and develop new Osteospermum cultivars with uniformly mounded plant habit, freely flowering habit and attractive inflorescence coloration.

The new Osteospermum plant originated from a cross-pollination by the Inventor in May, 2006 of a proprietary selection of Osteospermum ecklonis identified as code number 03.70.003, not patented, as the female, or seed parent with the Osteospermum ecklonis ‘Shiela’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 18,066, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Osteospermum was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Odense, Denmark in May, 2007.

Asexual reproduction of the new Osteospermum plant by terminal cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Odense, Denmark since November, 2007, has shown that the unique features of this new Osteospermum plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Osteospermum have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, daylength and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Sunpix0802’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Sunpix0802’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Osteospermum:

-   -   1. Compact and mounded plant habit.     -   2. Freely branching growth habit.     -   3. Daisy-type inflorescences with deep red-colored ray florets.     -   4. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Osteospermum differ from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Osteospermum are more compact than and not         as vigorous as plants of the female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Osteospermum have smaller leaves than         plants of the female parent selection.     -   3. Plants of the new Osteospermum and the female parent         selection differ in ray floret color as plants of the female         parent selection have pinkish orange-colored ray florets.

Plants of the new Osteospermum differ from plants of the male parent, ‘Shiela’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Osteospermum are more compact than and not         as vigorous as plants of ‘Shiela’.     -   2. Plants of the new Osteospermum have smaller inflorescences         than plants of ‘Shiela’.     -   3. Plants of the new Osteospermum and ‘Shiela’ differ in ray         floret color as plants of ‘Shiela’ have orange red-colored ray         florets.

Plants of the new Osteospermum can be compared to plants of Osteospermum ecklonis ‘Sunny Mary’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,389. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Odense, Denmark, plants of the new Osteospermum differed from plants of ‘Sunny Mary’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Osteospermum were more compact and less         vigorous than plants of ‘Sunny Mary’.     -   2. Plants of the new Osteospermum and ‘Sunny Mary’ differed in         ray floret color as plants of ‘Sunny Mary’ had red         purple-colored ray florets.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Osteospermum. These photographs shows the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Osteospermum.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Sunpix0802’.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of a typical inflorescence of ‘Sunpix0802’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs, following observations and measurements describe plants grown in Bonsall, Calif. during the spring in a polyethylene-covered greenhouse and under conditions and practices which approximate those generally used in commercial Osteospermum production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures averaged 24° C. and night temperatures averaged 14° C. Plants were pinched one time. Plants were 16 weeks old when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Osteospermum ecklonis ‘Sunpix0802’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Osteospermum ecklonis identified as code number 03.70.003,             not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Osteospermum ecklonis ‘Shiela’,             disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 18,066. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About ten days at 18° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About twelve days at 18° C.             to 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting, summer.—About three weeks             at 18° C. to 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting, winter.—About four weeks             at 18° C.         -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; light tan in             color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; moderately dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant form/growth habit.—Compact, upright and mounded plant             habit.         -   Plant height.—About 27 cm.         -   Plant diameter.—About 42 cm.         -   Lateral branches.—Quantity per plant: Freely branching             habit, about 30 lateral branches develop per plant; pinching             enhances branching. Length: About 13.5 cm.         -   Foliage description.—Arrangement/quantity: Alternate,             simple; leaves sessile; about 16 leaves per lateral branch.             Length: About 5.9 cm. Width: About 2.6 cm. Shape:             Oblanceolate. Apex: Obtuse. Base: Narrowly cuneate. Margin:             Entire with infrequent deep indentations. Texture, upper and             lower surface: Slightly pubescent. Color: Developing leaves,             upper surface: Close to 137B. Developing leaves, lower             surface: Close to 137D. Fully expanded leaves, upper             surface: Close to 137A; venation, close to 144A. Fully             expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 137C; venation,             close to 143B. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Appearance.—Daisy-type inflorescences; inflorescences             positioned above and beyond the foliage; inflorescences             terminal and axillary. Disc and ray florets developing             acropetally on a capitulum. Moderately freely flowering             habit; about five inflorescences developing per lateral             branch.         -   Fragrance.—Moderately fragrant.         -   Flowering response.—Plants of the new Osteospermum flower             continuously from February to September; inflorescences last             about two to three weeks on the plant; inflorescences             persistent.         -   Inflorescence bud.—Height: About 1 cm. Diameter: About 8 mm.             Shape: Spherical. Color: Close to 144B.         -   Inflorescence size.—Diameter: About 6 cm. Depth (height):             About 2 cm. Disc diameter: About 2.1 cm. Receptacle             diameter: About 7 mm. Receptacle height: About 4 mm.         -   Ray florets.—Length: About 2.7 cm. Width: About 5 mm. Shape:             Narrowly oblanceolate. Apex: Obtuse. Margin: Entire.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Number             of ray florets per inflorescence: About 32 in one to two             whorls. Color: When opening, upper surface: Close to 60B;             towards the apex, streaked with close to 38C. When opening,             lower surface: Close to 77B; faint streaks, close to 23D.             Fully opened, upper surface: Close to 60B; with development,             color becoming closer to 59A. Fully opened, lower surface:             Close to 185A.         -   Disc florets.—Shape: Tubular; apex, five-pointed. Length:             About 7 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm. Number of disc florets per             inflorescence: About 200. Color: Immature: Apex, close to             N186C; mid-section and base, close to 62D. Mature: Apex,             close to N186D; mid-section and base, close to 62D. With             development, apex, close to 187A; mid-section and base,             close to 181D.         -   Phyllaries.—Quantity per inflorescence: About 28. Length:             About 8 mm. Width: About 1 mm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex:             Acute. Margin: Entire. Texture: Slightly pubescent. Color,             upper and lower surfaces: Close to 144B.         -   Peduncles.—Length, terminal peduncle: About 4.7 cm. Length,             axillary peduncle: About 3.3 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.             Strength: Moderate. Aspect, terminal peduncle: Erect.             Aspect, axillary peduncle: About 10° from vertical. Texture:             Pubescent. Color: Close to 144B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Present on disc florets             only. Anther shape: Lanceolate. Anther length: About 2 mm.             Anther color: Close to 187A. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen             color: Close to 24B. Gynoecium: Present on both ray and disc             florets. Pistil length: About 3 mm. Stigma shape:             Two-branched. Stigma length: About 2 mm. Stigma color: Close             to N77A. Style length: About 2 mm. Style color: Close to             70C.         -   Seeds/fruits.—Seed and fruit development have not been             observed on plants of the new Osteospermum. -   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Osteospermum have not     been shown to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to     Osteospermums. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Osteospermum have been     observed to have good garden performance and to tolerate rain, wind     and temperatures ranging from about −4° C. to about 30° C. 

1. A new and distinct Osteospermum plant named ‘Sunpix0802’ as illustrated and described. 